YEAR

ck to the events f

y-eight and

s family has been friends with mine even before I was born

while. We sometimes spend our family vacation in his home too. Every time he co

awkward between us. I remember that afternoon when I came home from school

d how he tied his long, wavy hair in a man bun. His husky voice filled the room as he sang to Dashboard Confessional's Stolen. I noticed how

realized he already felt my pre

ly. My bab

od rush to

d 'baby' suddenl

my side. Then he pulled me in for a playful hug. I can't tell if I was relieved or

from his hand anyway. He led me to sit on the sofa before he sat next to me. I felt his left hand brushing against

scent that wafted on my nose. I felt dizzy as the whirlwind of emotions ran throu

e back. I knew something was happening to me, but I did not under

n my room. I can still hear Ashton strummi

he having a con

ong, I decided to climb out of bed and focus on something else. I walked to my study table. I turned on th

going to

room, Ashton is now singing another song. I leaned my back on the chair and c

The party was close to over and I haven't seen Ashton. I was

t a stem of a red rose between his teeth as he was still butt

ended his right hand towar

t. The beat of the music wasn't exactly slow. It's like the DJ is playing a remix version or something. Ashton kept on

iced the small strip of plaster on his

w," Ashton murmured

face away so I co

here." Ashton ran his hand to his chin and then he smiled

pt smiling and laughing at them. When the song was about to end, he whispered something in my ear. And Ashton said it at about the same time

night. And I regretted it so much that

me waiting? No. I'm sure he

ss laughter ringing in my head. It was a strange feeling wh

d. Unconsciously, I have been assuming and daydreaming about him confessing to me. And

last to arrive at the party but also the first to leave. To make things more bizarre, his texts became le

our house. He is in the living room, dashing, st

me? Was I o

to the present. The voice sounded like

was

ten, but the wheels stuck in something. T

uc

ard my mom coming from the stair

opened the door

ou ask?" I didn't realize I was be

downstairs. Hav

e ago. I just had to do someth

k a little flustered."

fine." I turn

?" She still

hed my lips int

Come down in a bit, okay? And you might

at her co

eard a woman s